Gigi Connection

If you’re like us, you can’t believe we have come to the close of another year. The older we get, the faster time flies. For many of us, this year has presented itself with challenges – some health, family or financial challenges and you are so ready for a new year. For others, you may have been blessed with more members in your family, especially the cute and cuddly kind (grandkids), good health and love. Whatever 2022 has been for you, we wish you only joy, love and much happiness in 2023! No matter how you choose to ring in the New Year – whether it’s hosting... Continue Reading

These adorable DIY Christmas Soap bottles make for an inexpensive gift (less than $3 each) that our kids and grandkids can give to their friends, neighbors, teachers or coaches! You’ll have fun making them together and you’ll LOVE how inexpensive and adorable they are! With there being so many different ways to make these festive soap bottles, you may happen to have most of the supplies on hand. Supplies you will need: White Hand Soap Bottles (you can purchase them at the Dollar Store or Walmart for $0.98 a bottle) Goo Gone Mod Podge (again I found a small bottle at the Dollar... Continue Reading

I LOVE the idea of gifting an experience to our grandchildren, especially now as they are getting a little older. Our five grandchildren range in age from 8yrs to almost 3yrs old. As very young children we would get them a few toys and would just love to watch them unwrap their gifts with so much joy and anticipation! However, as toys were passed down to younger siblings their toy boxes became overflowing and many pieces lost forever. One cool October morning while chatting over a cup of coffee about the upcoming Christmas shopping frenzy, my daughter said to me, “Mom, all the kids have enough... Continue Reading

Grandparents want to see their grandkids spend more time reading. It is one of the most important activities you can do together. In this article, let’s give you some tips on how to make the most of this special time and how to encourage kids to read. Read aloud to them Start a grandparent-child book club Offer book bags that will encourage them to read Provide access to many good books Ask them to accompany you to visit the library and bookstore Attend Storytime in the library Start creating a cozy reading nook with a comfortable chair, reading lamps, and books on the... Continue Reading

For the past several years, at our Annual Family Christmas Party, we have been setting up a Hot Chocolate Bar. Not only is our bar fun and festive, it also serves as a holiday focal point and a welcoming refreshment spot. The first thing we determine is the best location for our bar. This year we set ours up in the living room while watching Christmas movies on Hallmark and we have previously set up outside in our backyard near our fire-pit with blankets and lots of good conversation. However, a couple of other good options would be to set up in your entry way to welcome guests as they arrive!... Continue Reading

Thanksgiving is the moment for family and friends to celebrate together with gratitude for all the blessings received. When you’re together celebrating, food is there! If you are hosting a Thanksgiving party this year with kids, these tips will help keep them entertained while preparing the food. Organize a Scavenger Hunt No matter the weather, organize a scavenger hunt. If the weather is good, send them outside for a hunt. List some scavenger hunt items and offer a reward for someone who finds everything on the list first. Prizes can be chocolates, gift cards, or a dollar bill. Coloring... Continue Reading

Our favorite time of year is here and we just love shopping for gifts for our family and friends! Together, we’ve put together the best gifts for everyone on your shopping list. Many of these gifts we have purchased ourselves and are used regularly with our own grandchildren. We’ve also kept the price point in mind because of our growing families and have found the best mid-range gifts and stocking stuffers. Be sure to watch our social media stories on InstaGram and FaceBook because we’ll be adding to these gift guides over the coming weeks and sharing shopping links. We... Continue Reading

With the holidays right around the corner and holiday planning parties already starting, we wanted to share some hostess gifts ideas for the 2022 season. Whether you are going to a co-worker’s dinner party, a holiday event, neighborhood Christmas party or staying with someone for the weekend, it is still vogue to bring a little something to thank them. Whether it is a heartfelt thank you note, baked goods or a hand picked gift, trust us everyone likes to feel appreciated. Keep in mind, hostess gifts should be something special for a host or hostess that they can used for their immediate... Continue Reading

We love Thanksgiving – it’s a time to reflect on all of our blessings, big and small! If you are lucky enough to celebrate Thanksgiving with either family or friends, we have put together some of our favorite items to complete your Thanksgiving table – making it festive and fun. And yet in the rush to prepare our homes, let’s allow them to also fill up our soul and our hearts with the memories of those we share it with, because they should always be our “why”! These ceramic pumpkin bowls will complete your Thanksgiving table adding a festive accent to it. ... Continue Reading

Many of us have grandchildren that live a long distance away from us, and we’re always looking for ways to keep in contact and make memories with them. Today’s technology makes it easier to connect and communicate with our loved ones. I personally love to use FaceTime for video chatting with my grandchildren. You can watch movies at the same time, color together, chat and play games during your virtual time with each other. Besides FaceTime, here are a few other apps to keep in touch with your grandchildren. Zoom Google Duo Skype Telegram Facebook Messenger Recently, Gigi... Continue Reading